LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Clippers have signed Coach Tyronn Lue to a long-term contract after the NBA team won a division title in his fourth season.
Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank didn’t disclose details in announcing the new deal on Wednesday, May 29.
Citing unnamed sources, ESPN reported that the new contract is worth about $14 million annually through the 2028–29 season.
“T Lue is everything we want in a head coach. He’s a brilliant tactician and a natural leader with an extraordinary ability to connect with those around him, both players and staff,” Mr. Frank said in a statement. “Four years ago, we felt privileged to hire T Lue, and we feel just as fortunate today. There’s no one we’d rather coach our team. T Lue is a pillar of the organization and will be for a very long time.”
Mr. Lue has posted a record of 184–134 in four seasons, including three postseason trips and the franchise’s first trip to the Western Conference finals in 2021. The Clippers went 51–31 this season and won the Pacific Division title for the third time in franchise history.
Mr. Lue coached the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA title with LeBron James, who left for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency two years later. Mr. Lue was gone after a 0–6 start following James’ departure from the Cavaliers. He had waved off talk that he might be a candidate for the job coaching James with the Lakers after the Dallas Mavericks ended the Clippers’ season in the first round of the playoffs.
“I didn’t come in to bounce around, go all over the place,” Mr. Lue said at the time. “They’ve all been great to me. Just having a great relationship with the owner, with the front office. It’s great. I would love to be here long-term.”
Mr. Lue was an assistant on Doc Rivers’ staff with the Clippers before taking over when Mr. Rivers and the club mutually parted ways following the 2019–20 season. Mr. Rivers went to the Philadelphia 76ers, and is now with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“This is where I want to be,” Mr. Lue said. “I’ve loved coaching this team for the past four years, and I’m excited to head into a new era at Intuit Dome.”
The Clippers are set to begin play in their new arena in Inglewood, Calif., next season.
Mr. Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning championships with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001.
